Despite a game-long soaking rain, the Lake Orion varsity football team gave a full-house homecoming crowd a game to remember, shutting out Farmington Hills Harrison, 19-0.
The Oct. 8 game may have served as the pivotal point for the Dragons? young defense, holding Harrison to just 75 yards of total offense, including six quarterback sacks, three interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Troy Anderlie recorded six tackles and two interceptions to lead the Dragons, while Bobby Clouse picked up five tackles and another Orion iterception.
James Monro recorded seven tackles and a quarterback sack, and Chase Goff had six tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Dragon defense seemed impenetrable all night, as two-way starter, senior Brian Hewitt, also had an exceptional game on both sides of the ball, but was particularly punishing to Harrison ball carriers.
The Dragons scored on their first possession, capped by an Andy Miller four-yard scoring run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Dragons with a 6-0 lead, which they held until the fourth quarter.
Early in the fourth, Brad Hood found tight end Hewitt in the end zone for a 13-yard scoring pass. Hewitt made a spectacular diving catch that seemed to ignite the soaked homecoming crowd.
Alan Ford’s extra point gave Orion a 13-0 lead.
Just five minutes later, Steve Garver put an exclamation point on the victory, with a 33-yard scoring run.
Offensively for Orion, six different ball carriers combined for 205 yards on 33 carries. Miller carried 10 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, and Garver managed 53 yards and a touchdown on five carries.
Jayson Bodo picked up 31 yards on nine carries, while Joe Nowicki had 28 yards on three carries. Brad Morrison and Scott Avery combined for 18 yards and six carries.
Hood completed eight of his 16 pass attempts for Lake Orion, for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Hewitt led all receivers with three catches for 49 yards and a score.
Ryan Allison hauled in three for 22 yards, and Ryan Kelly and Garver each had a catch.
The Dragons (5-2) travel to Troy Athens (5-2) on Oct. 15 for a 7 p.m. varsity match-up.
Both squads are searching for that important sixth win that assures them of a playoff birth.